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28 Comments
- Seetee, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5True, a program is not bad just because it's not Open Source (or Free Software, or whatever the politically correct way to describe it is now days), but when at program tries to create it's own protocol/file format/etc... when there are agreed upon standards, _that_ it a bad thing. It is a practice used when trying to monopolize a market. Just look at the DVD-/+ and the Blue Ray/HD-DVD disasters, we as consumers do not want that.
- Seetee, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Skype _is_ bad.
In the same way that IExplorer is bad for not rendering sites according to W3C. Skype is not following the agreed standard protocol for internet telephony, SIP, and thus creates a bunch of users who can not connect to the other networks. Say after me: "Skype is bad, SIP is good."
For further reading, see for example:
http://james.seng.cc/archives/000209.html - cbriggs, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Gizmo isn't open source. It just uses open standard protocols.
- shakin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2"Isn't that like saying Yahoo messenger is back because you can't send a message to a MSN user? Or because eMule is bad, because you can't get a file from Kazaa's service?"
Yes, proprietary IM clients are bad. That's why Trillian, GAIM and other "bridge" clients are so popular, but still far from perfect. The telephone works so well because you can phone anybody. On Bell and calling an AT&T customer? No problem. VOIP implementations need to work the same way. Screw all this proprietary crap because it will only make our lives worse. - Tunasashimi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The problem with Skype is that it is HUGE and SLOW, specially on older pc's.
The second problem with Skype is that you can only access it with Skype, and not with universal messengers like Gaim, Kopete, Trillian, etc...
The third problem with Skype is that it uses some nasty TCP protocol hacks and just generally misbehaves, crashing and plundering useless old network hardware.
Go to oldversion.com and get skype 1.2 for older PC's. Don't know for how long it will be supported (compatible) though...
Why is Skype so successful? Because all the other protocols, open or not, sucks in comparison. So sad. Just a matter of time before someone hacks/reverse-engineer their protocols though... - linuxbox, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2"Isn't Gizmo already an open source alternative to Skype?" Well Linspire's open-sourced project. This means no freaking .tar.gz archive. My theory is and has always been to stay as far away of anything Linspire funds. Linspire == *****
- davysims, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I thought Skype was OK until today when I opened this email:
This message arrived in my email a few days ago -
"Hi there Davy Sims,
This is a second reminder to let you know that your Skype Credit balance will
expire in 7 days time. Don’t let that happen, act today! Below is list of
actions you can take to keep your credit.
Your account details:
Skype Name: davysims
Balance: EUR 9.56
Expiry date: 2007-05-23"
First - I paid for the service in advance - so Skype were earning credit in their account on my pre-payment
Second - It is no business of Skype how often I chose to check my email.
Third - there is no warning from Skype on signing up that there is a minimum usage - perhaps there is in the small print - but that I suspect is read by very few.
How dare they act in such a dishonourable way? How dare they act as thieves?
I not only have prepaid Skype Out - but also prepaid Skype In. Unless I get a refund (I have written to them - although there is no obvious way to complain) I will be removing the software.
This is disgraceful behavour - the amount is not significant - the attitude and the action is disgraceful.
- djrbx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Well I use skype and I'm happy with it, but I don't really need it because I can call my friends across the country with my cell phone and not have to worry about long distance charges. Thanks to metro PCS. Unlimited text and calls 27/7 and not having to worry about my bill peeking at the end of the month. The only reason I use skype is to call people in other countries, like ausie, but that's only once for every two weeks or so. So I'm not really into all these VOIP services. Plus, most cell services get free calls to the same service anyway to anyone anywhere in the country, ex. cingular to cingular or Verizon to Verizon. So whats the big fuss with VOIP? But hay, if you all enjoy it, go for it.
- klinean, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1gotta have more cowbell!!!!
gotta have less Skype crap!!!!! - kungfustickman, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Uh I don't have a problem with skype. What's everyone complaining about> Just because it's not open source doesn't mean it's not good. (or bad)
- matthewchen, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1try open source code search engine codase at http://www.codase.com
- lame_duck, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Nope. Wasn't talking about quality. Saying "proprietary software is crap because it's proprietary" is as ignorant as saying "Open software is good because it is open." I use Linux, open apps, and support the community, but I'm not stupid enough to think that OSS is the cure-all.
If companies actually took the time to fingure out a new plan, and drop this "Buy software, install service pack, wait, repeat." crap, we wouldn't be having this discussion. This won't happen... There stuck in the 80's and think that the bugs won't be explorted.
I will defend Skype on this, they do it right. They, like many other free softwares, will release constant updates to protect the user, give them APIs to work with, and are a very VERY helpful bunch. They don't do the "big release, crapy update X10, hored all good updates for next verson, watch users dround in there mistakes, then release wize-bang verson 2423432432.35234 that is the fix to all there problems." - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Gizmo is not open source, but they use SIP.
- whitesanjuro, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0unless i can get calls from a local number sent to my computer anywhere i'm on the internet, i have to say skype still wins.
- lollerskates, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1"The Next Generation, Codename 'Picard.'"
Oh, how I love nerd jokes. - lame_duck, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Seetee... Isn't that like saying Yahoo messenger is back because you can't send a message to a MSN user? Or because eMule is bad, because you can't get a file from Kazaa's service?
IMHO, Skype's ideal is better than SIP. With SIP, if the providers main server crashes, it takes down the whole network. With Skype, you can be connected and if the main server crashes, you will remain active. *This is just in theory, I have yet to be kicked for a Skype server acting up but I have for a SIP server.*
All in all, it comes down to personal preference. I like Skype, but the next guy my go all old school and start pushing Net2phone. - thefilmguy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Project Gizmo and Google Talk ( 2 person IM only) is the only to programs, besides Skype that I've heard about that work good. Will have to wait and see if this catches on. If a client for Mac OSX isn't developed then I can't use it.
- celafon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0When you are using Windows you are surely OK, but things are bit complicated when you are on Mac or Linux or when you'd like to start using software phone in other devices that does not have a skype client. You cant write your own skype compatible client, as skype will not open it's protocol to people willing to do so.
And nowadays people are starting using more and more devices. It affects now Mac and Linux boxes (that is not only PC, but PPC, phones and whatever device that linux is running on)... So either you go the skype's way (that is Skype's proprietary software supporting only platforms and OSes they choose and accepting their limitations) or go f...k yourself.
I for instance am unable to do video conference, as this feature is not supported for Linux. What it means -- they simply don't care about Linux users. - Jonzo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0btw, skype is a decentralized network.
- celafon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0So all you are saying is that you don't mind having bunch of protocols that will do same stuff? All that is being said here is Skype is creating new things without opening it for everyone. Same thing MS tried to do in browsers one time in the past -- trying to bend standards, so pages will look different in their browser, just to avoid loosing users in favour of competing browser or OS. That did not helped us -- users...
Skype did not open its standard. Creating another closed standard is the simplest way to get rid of competition, because you create a monopoly. And I don't understand why it is worth defending. - teaguecl, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1"Please please PLEASE stop the "proprietary is bad" crap. Not all proprietary software is bad. Not all open software is good." - lame duck
You are confusing things I believe. When you say "not all open software is good" I assume you mean because the quality of the software is bad, and there certainly is proof of that. Conversely, "not all proprietary software is bad" is also true when speaking about quality, because obviously some good code has been written for some proprietary products.
However, when I say "Free software is good" I don't mean that the quality of the software is good. What I mean is that open source products using open protocols is good for the consumer. This is a philosophical belief, not a comment on quality of an individual product. I use only "Free" software because of this belief. In no way do I fool myself into thinking that I am using the highest quality photo editing software (for example), but I do believe that in supporting a open platform rather than a proprietary one I am making the computing world a more friendly place. So I will say again, "proprietary software is crap" - even if it is of the highest quality. - siiix, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1besides the quality of skype is horid, and call/sms are ridiculously expensive
for long time i use voipcheap.com witch is the same as voipbuster, i doubt they open source but landlines to just about anywhere are free and the rest is half what skype cost
they optional sip for FREE so i can use my sip phone, and if i want i can use skype-like messenger
not to talk about that a wifi skype phone cost 3x as much as a sip phone, a brand new TC300 you can buy on ebay sometimes for 50euros.. try to find a skype phone even near that price.. and again the quality of the phones is as well not wort much - Seetee, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0FYI: Linspire supports two SIP-projects, the other one is PhoneGAIM (http://www.phonegaim.com/), a GAIM-klient with SIP functionality integrated.
- mojaam, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0All these softwares but no actual contacts. Sucks.
- laurentlasalle, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0Isn't Gizmo already an open source alternative to Skype?
- lame_duck, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0Shakin,
Proprietary isn't always bad. Why do people have this mentality? These networks are open so you DO have choices, but saying you hate the messengers because there proprietary is just blatant ignorance. If you don't think there open, search for the documents from 1998 *I could have the year wrong* when AIM and a couple of buddies pushed everyone into a standard. That's when the do-all messengers started to pop up. There great, flashy, and fix the "proprietary iz b@d!!1!1!111one" mentality. In Linux, I us GAIM. There are some messengers I don't use a do-all for, because I like the options the native clients offer.
Please please PLEASE stop the "proprietary is bad" crap. Not all proprietary software is bad. Not all open software is good. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -5/+0******THIS IS BAD NEW THEY STOLE THIS ********THEY STOLE CODE FROM
http://www.callpacket.com/callpacketphone.htm - kungfustickman, on 10/31/2007, -8/+0What's wrong with Skype?
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